YOUR BABY:
The baby, now considered a fetus after 8 weeks, and will have soft fingernails and toenails. The legs and arms are now fully formed. The kidneys develop and send urine into the bladder. Genitals have begun to develop, but not enough to determine the baby's gender. The eyes are largely open by week 10, but the eyelids are beginning to fuse, and will stay that way until the 25th to 27th week. Teeth begin to form, as 20 buds appear in the mouth. Fetal movements increase. The baby will move if touched through the uterine wall, and can also spontaneously move. By the end of 12 weeks, the organs and body systems are fully formed, but will mature over the course of the pregnancy. The fetus now is 4 inches long and weighs a little over an ounce.
Your morning sickness and fatigue will still be hanging around for the third month. But the end is in sight! Most will only experience this for a few more weeks. Your clothes will start to feel snug as your waistline and breasts enlarge, especially if you've had a baby before. Weight gain varies from woman-to-woman during pregnancy. The average weight gain for the mother-to-be is between 25 to 35 pounds. You may have gained three to four pounds by now. The muscular contractions of the intestines, which help move food through the digestive tract, are slowed due to high levels of progesterone. This can cause heartburn, indigestion, constipation and gas. Frequent urination continues.
Your weight and blood pressure will be recorded. Urine testing is also performed to check for the presence of sugar and protein. The height of the uterus and fetal growth will be measured to evaluate the overall growth of the baby. You can discuss any symptoms or discomforts you may be experiencing. During the 10th to 12th week, the baby's heartbeat can be heard using a special instrument called a Doppler ultrasound. These fetal heart tones will be recorded at each office visit.
If you have a family history of birth defect, or if you are over the age of 35, a chorionic villi sampling (CVS) may be performed between the 8th and 12th week of the pregnancy. This test detects genetic or chromosomal abnormalities. This test involves the sampling of chorionic cells obtained through a catheter placed either through the cervix or the abdominal wall.
Ask your midwife about forms of exercise, as it is good for both you and the baby. Walking is a good choice. Now is the time to start shopping for maternity clothes!
Continue taking any prenatal supplements and/or supplement your diet with the B-vitamin folic acid (it's found in most multivitamins) to reduce the risk of birth defects of the brain and spine. Often a prenatal vitamin supplement may be recommended in addition to a good prenatal nutritional program with adequate protein, vitamins, minerals (including sodium) and calories. Ask your midwife or health care provider before taking any prescription drugs or over-the-counter products. You should not be smoking and drinking alcohol or using any street drugs.
MoonDragon's Nutrition Guidelines & Dietary Recommendations
MoonDragon's Pregnancy Information: Pregnancy Calendar Index
Photos obtained from A Child Is Born by Lennart Nilsson
and Pregnancy - in anatomical illustrations by the Carnation Company
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